Energy companies are set to face de facto price regulation after federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the Morrison government would introduce a default market offer to replace existing standing offers in the market.

Beaten-down companies such as Lovisa have emerged as the more unlikely stars of reporting season, putting a floor under discretionary retail stocks deemed good enough to grow against a slowing economy.

Afterpay and its buy now pay later rivals have dodged tough regulation from a Senate inquiry which would have required them to conduct costly responsible lending checks before they can sign up customers.

China rejects reports that ports in the Dalian region have banned Australian coal imports, saying it has only changed quality checks on the commodity because some shipments did not meet environmental standards.

Australia downplayed a link between Chinese restrictions on coal exports and its decision to block Huawei, amid fears the commodities sector would become collateral damage in the trade war between the US and China.

In the late 1800s, as gold miners moved through the Colorado Rockies, they came upon the would-be ski resort of Aspen, with Mount Sopris as its crown jewel. The land was rich, but also sacred to the indigenous Ute tribe, who cursed their visitors out of despair. Anyone who slept in the shadow of Mount Sopris would be doomed never to leave.